Improved automatic sounding apparatus



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. 4NACrLE, U. S. A., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVED AUTOMATIC SOUNDING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39, l 6l, dated July 7, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. NAGLE, Brigadier-General of the United States Army, have invented a Self-Sounding Apparatus and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompan yin g drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a device, fully described hereinafter, to be attached to monitors or other vessels for the purpose of promptly and certainly determining the depth of the water navigated by the same, and affording to those in charge ot' them an opportunity for readily obviating the danger of permitting the vessels to run aground.

In order to enable others to make and apply my invention, I will now proceed to describe the manner of carrying it into effect.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of' this specification, Figure l is a side view ofa monitor with my self-soundingdevice attached; Fig. 2, a horizontal projection of' the same; and Fig. 3, a modification ot the invention.

Similar letters refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

In navigating monitors and other vessels through channels or harbors in which the water is of uncertain depth it is of the utmost importance that those in command of the vessel should have accurate and continued information as to the variation in the depth ot' the water throughout the course pursued by the vessel, as the safety of the latter depends in a great measure on this accurate information. In order to attain this important end I hang to one or both sides of the vessel A, at the point x, near the deck ot and projecting about onefoot over and outside of the same, a rod, B, which may be made of wood or other suitable material, the long arm ofthe rod being weighted so as to sink, and the lower end traversing the bed of the river or harbor as the vessel moves. A cord, C, connected to the vessel and to the rod prevents the latter from assuming a vertical position, and serves to `raise the long arm of the rod when the vessel has tobe backed. Adjacent to each rod and attached to the deck or side of the vessel is secured a segment, D, on which are graduated marks, the lever being so situated with respect to this graduated segment as to serve as an index. It will be evident that as the vessel moves and the weighted end of the long arm of the rod traverses the uneven bed of the river or harbor, the position of the lever must vary with the variation of the bed of the river or harbor, or, in other words, in accordance with the depth of the water in the channel navigated by the vessel, and the amount of this variation can be readily determined by watching the position of the rod. The graduated segment may be dispensed with when the pilot becomes accustomed to the various positions assumed by the rod and the depth of water indicated by these positions. It. should be understood that the rod is arranged to move freely in every direction around its point of suspension. V

Although I have shown the vessel as furnished with a rod or self-sounding device on both sides, and although I prefer the use of two rods in most instances, one rod only, situated on one side of the vessel, may, in many cases, suffice to ascertain the depth of the water, and although I have described and illustrated the operation of a rigid rod for indicating the depth of the water, it is obvious that -a weighted chain or rope may be used for .the same purpose, and that slight modifications ofthe device used may be made without departing from the main features ot' my invention.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 the graduated segment is situated below, instead of above, the point of suspension of the rod, an arrangement which will be readily understood without explanation.

It will be evident that, by the aid of my self-sounding device, prompt and certain information of the depth of the channel navigated can be ascertained, and consequently that the danger of running the vessel aground may be as promptly obviated.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 4 The within described self-sounding apparatus, composed ot' a rod or its equivalent, hung to the side ot' the vessel, and permitted to traverse the bed of the river or harbor, substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY M. NAGLE.

Witnesses: CHARLES E. FOSTER, J AMES MCOAHEN. 

